Middletown marks Memorial Day wth annual parade

More than a hundred residents of the Middletown-Odessa-Townsend area turned out Monday morning for the annual Memorial Day Parade in downtown Middletown.

By Scott Goss

More than a hundred residents from the Middletown-Odessa-Townsend area turned out Monday morning for the annual Memorial Day Parade in downtown Middletown.

The event, organized by the Prince Hall Masons of Stone Square Lodge No. 22 on East Lake Street, is a Middletown tradition that dates back more than 60 years.

“It started out as just a masonic event, with the older masons, who had military backgrounds, honoring their deceased loved ones and the military families who gave the ultimate sacrifice,” said Kenny Davis, who’s been organizing the parade since 2008. “When I took over we put a public notice in the Middletown Transcript and it’s just been growing ever since.”

On Monday, community members, local organizations and representatives from the Middletown Police Department and Volunteer Hose Company of Middletown marched from Louis L. Redding Middle School onto East Lake Street, Catherine Street, East Main Street and North Broad Street before heading back to the school.

The procession concluded at the Dale United Methodist Church Cemetery, where members of Stone Square Lodge paused to offer a prayer, followed by a 21-gun salute from the Dover Air Force Base Honor Guard to commemorate the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

“I think it turned out very well this year, and we had several groups marching with us for the first time,” Davis said. “Plus it wasn’t as hot as it was last year, and I think that made a big difference.”

Check out our photo gallery from today's parade by clicking on the link to the left.